Level 1: The vast majority of registered sex offenders are classified as Level 1 offenders. They are considered at low risk to re-offend. These individuals may be first time offenders and they usually know their victims.

Level 2 offenders have a moderate risk of re-offending. They generally have more than one victim and the abuse may be long term. These offenders usually groom their victims and may use threats to commit their crimes. These crimes may be predatory with the offender using a position of trust to commit their crimes. Typically these individuals do not appreciate the damage they have done to their victims.

Level 3 offenders are considered to have a high risk to re-offend. They usually have one or more victims and may have committed prior crimes of violence. They may not know their victim(s). The crime may show a manifest cruelty to the victim(s) and these offenders usually deny or minimize the crime. These offenders commonly have clear indications of a personality disorder.

The sex offender level is determined by the law enforcement agency in which the sex offender resides.

At a May community meeting, Shilling said a study in 2000 showed more than 90 percent of victims knew their offenders before the sexual assault.

“Yet, the media perpetrates this image that they’re all jump-out-of-the-bush types,” he told the group. “They’re not.”

Police gave community members a safety information packet at the meeting. Click here to download it as a PDF.

Thanks to the people who submitted questions. Previous answers are linked below.